Electrical fire on Nimitz under investigation

Jun. 13, 2013 - 06:00AM
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A fire broke out aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz on June 7, but it did not injure any sailors nor affect the ship’s ability to operate, the Navy announced Thursday.

The fire occurred in the ship’s electrical equipment while the carrier was in the Indian Ocean, a news release stated. The ship’s underway firefighting team and watchstanders were able to set fire boundaries and extinguish the fire.

The extent of the damage is unclear, but has not affected the ship’s ability to complete its mission, said Cmdr. Jason Salata, a spokesman for 5th Fleet. The ship has remained underway in the two weeks since the fire.

An assessment team from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., is on the ship in the Arabian Sea, but has yet to make any comments about the extent of the damage, Salata said.

“Bringing experts and artisans to the region to conduct assessments and repairs at sea is common for our forces operating forward - but it can take time,” he said.